21.   At some point, rising prices may overtake any benefits for cigarette makers from the settlement, investors said.

22.   At the same time, many of those states are suing cigarette makers to recover money spent treating sick smokers or to win damages from alleged fraud on consumers.

23.   At the same time, many of those states are suing cigarette makers to recover money spent treating sick smokers.

24.   At the same time, U.S. cigarette makers can pursue growth overseas.

25.   At the moment, however, the major problems faced by Philip Morris and other cigarette makers are in the courtrooms rather than legislative forums.

26.   B.A.T Industries Plc Chief Executive Martin Broughton said the cigarette maker would consider paying damages to smokers if that would end mounting legal claims against the industry.

27.   B.A.T Industries Plc paced gains in London after reports that executives at fellow cigarette makers were in talks to settle suits seeking remuneration for smoking-related illnesses.

28.   Bank Gospodarki Zywnosciowej, a Polish state-owned agricultural bank, is reportedly interested in buying a fifth state-owned cigarette maker.

29.   B.A.T is the second-largest Western cigarette maker after Philip Morris Cos., with brands such as Kool and Lucky Strike.

30.   Because cigarette makers want to eliminate their risk from state lawsuits, they may walk away from the settlement if not enough states sign on.